Ongoing declines for the world's amphibians in the face of emerging threats.

Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action1,2. Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment3,4. Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. We find that amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class (40.7% of species are globally threatened). The updated Red List Index shows that the status of amphibians is deteriorating globally, particularly for salamanders and in the Neotropics. Disease and habitat loss drove 91% of status deteriorations between 1980 and 2004. Ongoing and projected climate change effects are now of increasing concern, driving 39% of status deteriorations since 2004, followed by habitat loss (37%). Although signs of species recoveries incentivize immediate conservation action, scaled-up investment is urgently needed to reverse the current trends.

A new species of Microcaecilia (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae) from the Guianan region of Brazil.

We describe a new species of Microcaecilia from the Guianan region of Brazil, based on a series of eight specimens from the states of Pará and Amazonas. Microcaecilia marvaleewakeae sp. nov. is very similar to M. taylori, but differs from it in having more primary annuli, more secondary grooves, and more secondary grooves that completely encircle the body. The new species also seems to have a relatively shorter and thinner head than M. taylori, but additional specimens of the new species are necessary to check this. A brief discussion of the taxonomy of M. taylori is presented.

Resolving the taxonomic puzzle of Boana cinerascens (Spix, 1824), with resurrection of Hyla granosa gracilis Melin, 1941 (Anura: Hylidae).

Expeditions to unexplored or little explored places are important for discovering new species and also for collecting new samples (including specimens and tissues for DNA sequencing ) that may help resolve a plethora of taxonomic problems. In the 19th century, several naturalists explored a number of localities in Amazonia, describing species for which type material was deposited, mostly, in European museums of natural history. Some of these types were lost or destroyed in World War II and recent expeditions have focused on sampling new material from the type localities. material from Boana cinerascens, which allowed us to infer phylogenetic relationships of the Boana punctata group (i.e., green Boana), based on DNA sequence data, and to revaluate the status of B. cinerascens and its synonyms. We designate, redescribe and illustrate a neotype for B. cinerascens, which was described by Spix in 1824, from the Municipality of Tefé, State of Amazonas, Brazil. We revalidate, redescribe, and illustrate Hyla granosa gracilis Melin, 1941(= Boana gracilis). Corroborating previous studies, the green Boana were not recovered as a monophyletic group. Boana cinerascens is sister of B. gracilis plus a clade containing B. atlantica + B. punctata (both species not recovered as monophyletic).

Identity of Gymnophthalmus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from northeastern Amazonia with evidence for G. underwoodi as invasive in Belém / Identidade dos Gymnophthalmus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) do nordesteda Amazônia, com evidência para G. underwoodi como invasora em Belém

We report the occurrence of the lizard Gymnophthalmus underwoodi in the municipality of Belém, state of Pará, Brazil. This is the first record of that species south of the Amazonas River, probably because of an accidental introduction by ships that dock in Belém, the same pathway suggested for the recent introduction of another species of exotic lizard recently recorded in the city. We also determined the identity of some specimens of Gymnophthalmus from the states of Amapá and Pará through external morphology and molecular data, confirming that, until now, G. vanzoi is the only Gymnophthalmus occurring in the savanna enclaves of those states. Finally, we provide a new distribution map for the species of Gymnophthalmus, including the new occurrence record for G. underwoodi for the state of Pará, where it can be considered as an invasive species.

Nós relatamos a ocorrência do lagarto Gymnophthalmus underwoodi no município de Belém, estado do Pará, Brasil. Este é o primeiro registro ao sul do Rio Amazonas, provavelmente como resultado de uma introdução acidental por navios que atracam em Belém, o mesmo caminho sugerido para a introdução de outra espécie exótica de lagarto recentemente encontrada na cidade. Nós também determinamos a identidade de alguns espécimes de Gymnophthalmus dos estados do Amapá e Pará, através de dados morfológicos externos e moleculares, confirmando que, até o momento, G. vanzoi é o único Gymnophthalmus ocorrendo nos enclaves de savana desses estados. Por fim, nós fornecemos um novo mapa de distribuição para as espécies de Gymnophthalmus, incluindo o novo registro de ocorrência de G. underwoodi para o estado do Pará, onde ela pode ser considerada como uma espécie invasiva.

Identity of Gymnophthalmus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from northeastern Amazonia with evidence for G. underwoodi as invasive in Belém

ABSTRACT We report the occurrence of the lizard Gymnophthalmus underwoodi in the municipality of Belém, state of Pará, Brazil. This is the first record of that species south of the Amazonas River, probably because of an accidental introduction by ships that dock in Belém, the same pathway suggested for the recent introduction of another species of exotic lizard recently recorded in the city. We also determined the identity of some specimens of Gymnophthalmus from the states of Amapá and Pará through external morphology and molecular data, confirming that, until now, G. vanzoi is the only Gymnophthalmus occurring in the savanna enclaves of those states. Finally, we provide a new distribution map for the species of Gymnophthalmus, including the new occurrence record for G. underwoodi for the state of Pará, where it can be considered as an invasive species.

RESUMO Nós relatamos a ocorrência do lagarto Gymnophthalmus underwoodi no município de Belém, estado do Pará, Brasil. Este é o primeiro registro ao sul do Rio Amazonas, provavelmente como resultado de uma introdução acidental por navios que atracam em Belém, o mesmo caminho sugerido para a introdução de outra espécie exótica de lagarto recentemente encontrada na cidade. Nós também determinamos a identidade de alguns espécimes de Gymnophthalmus dos estados do Amapá e Pará, através de dados morfológicos externos e moleculares, confirmando que, até o momento, G. vanzoi é o único Gymnophthalmus ocorrendo nos enclaves de savana desses estados. Por fim, nós fornecemos um novo mapa de distribuição para as espécies de Gymnophthalmus, incluindo o novo registro de ocorrência de G. underwoodi para o estado do Pará, onde ela pode ser considerada como uma espécie invasiva.

Identity of Gymnophthalmus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from northeastern Amazonia with evidence for G. underwoodi as invasive in Belém / Identidade dos Gymnophthalmus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) do nordesteda Amazônia, com evidência para G. underwoodi como invasora em Belém

We report the occurrence of the lizard Gymnophthalmus underwoodi in the municipality of Belém, state of Pará, Brazil. This is the first record of that species south of the Amazonas River, probably because of an accidental introduction by ships that dock in Belém, the same pathway suggested for the recent introduction of another species of exotic lizard recently recorded in the city. We also determined the identity of some specimens of Gymnophthalmus from the states of Amapá and Pará through external morphology and molecular data, confirming that, until now, G. vanzoi is the only Gymnophthalmus occurring in the savanna enclaves of those states. Finally, we provide a new distribution map for the species of Gymnophthalmus, including the new occurrence record for G. underwoodi for the state of Pará, where it can be considered as an invasive species.(AU)

Nós relatamos a ocorrência do lagarto Gymnophthalmus underwoodi no município de Belém, estado do Pará, Brasil. Este é o primeiro registro ao sul do Rio Amazonas, provavelmente como resultado de uma introdução acidental por navios que atracam em Belém, o mesmo caminho sugerido para a introdução de outra espécie exótica de lagarto recentemente encontrada na cidade. Nós também determinamos a identidade de alguns espécimes de Gymnophthalmus dos estados do Amapá e Pará, através de dados morfológicos externos e moleculares, confirmando que, até o momento, G. vanzoi é o único Gymnophthalmus ocorrendo nos enclaves de savana desses estados. Por fim, nós fornecemos um novo mapa de distribuição para as espécies de Gymnophthalmus, incluindo o novo registro de ocorrência de G. underwoodi para o estado do Pará, onde ela pode ser considerada como uma espécie invasiva.(AU)